EA, Where A “New” Video Game Means Changing The Number On Old Game’s Title

Reigning Worst Company In America winner, video game giant Electronic Arts, may have hit a new low with the release of the Wii version of soccer game FIFA 13, which some claim is virtually the exact same game as FIFA 12, but with 1 added to that number.

For $50, buyers of the wildly popular game apparently get nothing but roster and uniform updates, which could likely have just been pushed to users as an update to FIFA 12, rather than getting them to buy an entirely new game.

Writes Nintendo Gamer:

FIFA games have traditionally been seen as good investments because they provide a lot of gameplay and can be enjoyed for many months, and so it’s not crazy to imagine a strapped-for-cash parent buying FIFA on Wii for their children to keep them entertained, safe in the knowledge that they won’t be asking for another game a week later because they’ve completed it.

This is of course the risk that consumers take when snapping up the new release of an annual sports title. There is never any guarantee that your cash is paying for anything that’s substantially improved or changed from the previous iteration, or that you’ve enjoy any changes that have been made. All you can be sure of is that EA will eventually close down the multiplayer servers for the games you bought a few years earlier.

For folks who don’t want to get burned by buying the same game with a new name, we recommend not pre-ordering the game. Instead, wait until it’s been out for at least a week. Then check the various review sites and online retailers to read through reviews before deciding if it’s worth plunking down your hard-earned cash.